Upon arriving, he hadn't been able to pay too much attention to his surroundings with Mu Qi present. Now, taking a proper look, he realized this place truly lived up to its reputation as Shangjing's premier establishment. Everything he saw boasted either high-tech content or futuristic designs.
In short, it was luxurious!
But no matter how luxurious, it was still something for ordinary people to enjoy. Once one reached a certain realm, they naturally lost the capacity for certain pleasures. Li Zhonglou chose a spot where he could most easily obtain information and slowly made his way over.
Besides specialized agencies, where else would be more suitable for information than a place with a multitude of people? Li Zhonglou opted for a crowded and diverse location: a bar.
Although it was close to noon, for the wealthy, enjoyment knew no specific time. Inside, there was still a daytime bar, and upon entering, one was greeted by dim lighting.
And the faint, pulsing music.
At the entrance, a server in a black suit politely stopped him.
"Good day, sir. May I see your access card, please?"
Li Zhonglou presented the card Mu Qi had just given him. Although it was merely an access card for a banquet, the server's expression changed drastically, a complete 180-degree turnaround.
"Good day, sir. Is this your first time here, or do you have familiar friends? If you require anything, please don't hesitate to ask!"
The server bowed ninety degrees. Li Zhonglou took back his access card and, as if accustomed to it, said, "It's my first time, but I'll manage on my own."
The server dared not say more and directly led him inside, explaining the rules along the way.
There were mainly three points: First, no causing trouble. If anyone caused trouble, just call a server to handle it.
The second and third points were about basic services within. If there was anything needed, one could seek the front desk; borrowing money was handled backstage.
Yes, Li Zhonglou double-checked. The third point he mentioned was about borrowing money.
This couldn't help but make him curious. It was just a bar, not a casino, so why would there be a need to borrow money?
However, he didn't inquire about it. Sometimes asking too many questions could arouse suspicion. After all, his current identity was that of a prominent young man in all of Shangjing. If he were to ask about the daily routines of the wealthy elite, it might raise suspicions and even lead to unnecessary trouble.
After entering through the door was a soundproof corridor. As he walked further in, the music grew louder. Upon reaching a half-open golden door, the server stopped.
"Sir, I hope you enjoy your time."
Li Zhonglou glanced back. At the spot where the server stood, there was a red line, seemingly marking their activity range. He didn't say much and just nodded.
Upon entering, the first thing he heard was the incredibly vibrant music. Unlike the bars he had visited before, although the music was loud, it wasn't chaotic. This alone set it apart from ordinary bars outside.
Continuing inside, he saw a spacious platform. He was on a raised platform, with the area below being as large as a football field. The stage was set up right in the center.
Currently, besides the DJ on stage, there were about ten scantily clad beauties dancing to the music. Indeed, in any high-end establishment, people's standards of appreciation remained consistent.
And below the stage were the wealthy patrons moving as they pleased, both men and women. However, the age group was predominantly young people in their twenties and thirties. Those over forty were not absent, but they were truly difficult to spot once dispersed.
There were stairs on both sides of the raised platform leading down, and an elevator in the front. Just for a height of about three meters, having this was a testament to the place's luxury.
"There should be something,"
Li Zhonglou muttered and walked down the stairs. Although the music was lively, it seemed to be automatically filtered in his ears, not stirring much emotion. However, the souls in his soul bottle all perked up their ears.
"Damn, it's been so long since I've seen such a high-quality bar. I really want to go out and have some fun."
"Don't even think about going out. Just enjoy the view from here for a while. Little Li, you'll be staying here for a while?"
The souls in the soul bottle were all driven mad by loneliness. Some had lived nomadic lives before their deaths and rarely experienced luxury. Such a scene was almost like half a paradise to them.
And the last person to speak with Li Zhonglou was the thick-skinned old acquaintance, Old Lin. Li Zhonglou could feel everyone's emotions, so he didn't refuse.
However, the mission was still important.
After descending to the dance floor, Li Zhonglou moved through the crowd and approached the front desk.
As soon as he sat down, a bartender quickly walked over and asked in his ear, "Is there anything you need?"
"I'd like to inquire about some information. Do you have channels for that?"
Li Zhonglou was direct, and the other person's reaction validated his thoughts.
"Of course. What level of information are you looking for?"
Before entering, he had heard from Mu Qi that Fengtian's most famous aspect wasn't its high-end, top-tier shops, but its bars.
Here, one could inquire about any gossip in Shangjing!
However, the service was restricted, as the number of people who could enter was relatively limited. But even so, this was still the most frequented place for these wealthy young men.
Even women who were not suitable for such venues would specifically delegate others to come.
Of course, the primary source of gossip was about the East District. Information beyond the East District was not within Fengtian's reach.
It was just that Mu Qi hadn't mentioned the levels of information, passing over it with a single sentence during their conversation, so Li Zhonglou was a bit bewildered by the question.
"Can we find a quieter place to talk?"
Li Zhonglou didn't appear too much like a novice. The bartender's eyes lit up at this.
"No problem, sir. I'll get a private room for you. Do you have your card with you?"
Li Zhonglou took out his bank card. Although most of his money was in the company's accounts, he still had a few million.
After the other party took it, shortly thereafter, a man dressed as security led him into a passage next to the dance floor.
When the door behind them closed, the deafening music instantly weakened by several times, and only muffled sounds could be heard.
Behind the door was also a corridor, with a turn at the end. The walkway, nearly three meters wide, had private rooms on both sides.
Just then, a man, led by another security guard, emerged from the corner at the end. The two made eye contact.
The latter almost instantly looked away, pretending not to see.
"Sir, your private room is here."
The security guard stopped at the third door. Li Zhonglou also walked over. The meticulous him noticed a wooden plaque with the character "地" (Dì) hanging by the door frame.
Without further thought, he pushed the door open and entered.
The space inside wasn't very large, only about fifty to sixty square meters, but it was exquisitely decorated. There were screens on both sides, and a rare oil lamp hung in the center. The room's lighting wasn't very bright, but the atmosphere was full.
Under the oil lamp sat a man in a gray robe, wearing a mask with the character "地" inscribed on it. He sat cross-legged, with a small tea table in front of him.